Gold–polyaniline composite Part I. Moving electrochemical interface

Abstract

The controlled growth of gold nanoclusters in polyaniline is predicated by the ability of PANI to switch from conducting to insulating form and by the fact that imine nitrogens form a strong complex with chloroaurate anions. The principal technique used in this study has been chronopotentiometric stripping. The chronopotentiograms indicate that the electrochemical interface for the Pt/Au/polyaniline/electrolyte shifts back and forth from the solution/PANI interface to Au/PANI interface. By adjusting experimental conditions the size and the size distribution of Au clusters can be controlled.